Vaccine skepticism, inequality in education and the green transition; the times we live in are full of societal challenges calling for scientific knowledge, and now more than ever, we need researchers to take part in the public debate.

Yet, as a researcher, it is easy to get lost when trying to disseminate knowledge. For instance, how do you bring your knowledge into play in practice? How do you tell a simple story about a complicated topic? How do you handle all the different media and media platforms? How do you engage in genuine dialogue where both parties respect and listen to one another? And how do you handle criticism that goes further and takes place on other terms than the discussions you are used to among your peers?

The list of challenges is as great as the need for more scientists to communicate. That is why, in the autumn of 2021, the Royal Academy launched the ‘Academy of Science Communication’, a three-year program supported by more than 4 million DKK from the Carlsberg Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The Academy of Science Communication is free and caters to researchers from all fields of science, offering both an analogue track in the shape of an intensive course with physical attendance for approx. 15 participants a year and a digital track with lessons accessible online. Parallel with the courses, a podcast with main points from the lessons will be produced and made available to all interested parties who want to improve their communication.

By the end of those three years, the Academy of Science Communication will have created a well-tested model for teaching research dissemination that other institutions may make use of. The model will also be described in book form. The first class of trained researchers will be ready for various media appearances, lecture halls and panel debates across the country from June 2022.

You can follow news about the Academy of Science Communication by subscribing to the Royal Academy's newsletter here: Nyhedsbreve | Royal Academy

The members of the Academy 2022-2023 are:

Agnete Meldgaard Hansen, Roskilde University - RUC

Anders Damgaard, Technical University of Denmark - DTU

Anders Hedegaard Hansen, Aalborg University

Anette Grønning, University of Southern Denmark - SDU

Esther Savina, Technical University of Denmark - DTU

Janne Tolstrup, University of Southern Denmark - SDU

Jesper Bonde, AHH-Hvidovre Hospital

Julia Kirch Kirkegaard, Technical University of Denmark - DTU

Juliane Engelhardt, University of Copenhagen

Katrine Balsgaard Juul, Svendborg Museum

Kirstin Dahl-Pedersen, University of Copenhagen

Kristian Svennevig, GEUS

Mikael Palner, University of Southern Denmark - SDU

Mikkel Meyer Andersen, Aalborg University

Nikolaj Sorgenfrei Blom, Technical University of Denmark - DTU

Pernille Bidstrup, Danish Cancer Society

Sabina Pultz, Roskilde University - RUC

Stine Jørgensen, University of Copenhagen

Terese Sara Jørgensen, University of Copenhagen

Thomas Olander, University of Copenhagen

Members of the Academy's Advisory Board are:

Chairperson: Professor Stine Helene Falsig Pedersen, University of Copenhagen

Head of the National Museum's media house "Our Time" Jacob Frische

PhD and science journalist Lone Frank, Weekendavisen

Associate Professor Marianne Achiam, University of Copenhagen

Professor Peter Bro, University of Southern Denmark

Professor, dr. phil. Dan Zahavi, University of Copenhagen

Professor Lone Simonsen, Roskilde University

Professor emerita, dr.phil. Mirjam Gelfer-Jørgensen

Fellow Kristoffer Frøkjær, the Constructive Institute, Aarhus University

Please direct any questions to project manager Peter Hyldgård at PH@Videnskabernesselskab.dk or telephone 20 87 77 56.